Paddle-wheel.



I. RODRIGUEZ DE LA SEDA Y. ACOSTA.

PADDLE WHEEL. AYPLIUATIQII FILED AUG. 17, 1911.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

3mm/MM nil. Jan ycadlof UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIOE.

PEDRO RODRIGUEZ DE LA SEDA Y ACOSTA, OF PONCE, PORTO RICO.

PADDLE-WHEEL.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, PEDRO RODRIGUEZ DE LA SEDA Y ACOSTA, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Ponce, Porto Rico, have. invented certainnew and useful Improvements in PaddleWheels, of Which the following is afull, clear, and exact descri tion.

My invention relates to paddle w eels, and has for its object to producea new and improved feathering paddle wheel.

The following is a description of an embodiment of my invention,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa vertical transverse section of a paddle wheel embodyin my invention.Fig. 2 is a vertical longtiu inal section of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 is a frame having aplurality of arms 2, connected at their ends by crosspieces 3. Thisframe is revolubly mounted upon stationary shafts 4 and is drivencounterclockwise by a bevel gear 5 meshin with a bevel gear 6 connectedto any suitable s'ource of power. The interior ends of the shafts 4 haveupwardly extending arms 7 rigidly connected thereto, the upper ends ofwhich provide bearings for a shaft 8. This shaft 8 carries rings orflanges 9, which are connected by connecting rods 10 to the free edgesof floats 11, pivoted at 12 in the Outer ends of the arms 2. The frame 1has rigidly connected to it sprocket wheels 13. The shaft 8 has rigidlyconnected to its ends sprocket Wheels 14. The corresponding sprocketWheels 13 and 14 are of equal size, and each pair is connected by achain 15 so that the shaft 8 is caused to revolve about its axissynchronously with the revolution of the frame 1 about its axis. Therods l0 are of such length that when a float 11 is in the lowermostposition, it is held thereby in vertical position, and when in otherpositions, it is moved out of alinement with the arm to which it ispivoted, so that the longitudinal thrust upon the Water produced by eachfloat during the revolution of the frame 2 is varied as the float iscarried around. When the paddle wheel is wholly submerged, at least twoof the floats, and sometimes three, are acting to propel the boat towhich the paddle wheel 1s attached, while the other floats arepractically cutting throu h the Water so as not to produce a substantialretarding effect p Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 17, 1911.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

serial No. 644,497.

on account of their rotation. The result is to cause the boat to whichthe Wheel is attached to move from right to left when the paddle wheelis revolved counterclockwise. The floats tend to take their positionsand cause the shaft 8 to revolve irrespective of the chains 15. Thechains 15, however, assist in maintaining the floats in proper positionby absolutely insuring a synchronous revolution of the shaft 8. Inoperation the paddle Wheel is preferably wholly submerged. It may,however, be only one-third submerged, if desired.

As Will be evident to those skilled in the art, my invention permits ofvarious modifications Without departing from the spirit thereof or thescope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a paddle wheel, the combination of a stationary support, a framerevoluble thereon, means for revolving said frame, movable floats ivotedin the periphery of said frame, a s aft revoluble about an axis locatedabove the axis of said frame, and connecting rods between said shaft andsaid floats connected to said floats at points eccentric to theirpivots.

2. In a paddle wheel, the combination of a stationary support, a framerevoluble thereon, means for revolving said frame, movable floatspivoted in the periphery of said frame, a shaft revoluble about an axislocated above the axis of said frame, connecting rods between said shaftand said floats connected to said floats at points eccentric to theirpivots, and means for causing said frame and shaft to revolvesynchronously in the same direction.

3. In a paddle wheel, the combination of a stationary support, a framerevoluble thereon, means for revolving said frame, movable floatspivoted in the periphery of' said frame, a shaft revoluble about an axislocated above the axis of said frame, connecting rods between said shaftand said floats connected to said floats at points eccentric to theirpivots, equal sprocket wheels on said frame and shaft, and a sprocketchain connected with said Wheels.

4. In a paddle Wheel, the combination of a stationary support, a framerevoluble thereon, means for revolving said frame, movable floatspivoted in the periphery of said frame, a shaft revoluble about an axislocated above the axis of said frame, and connections between said shaftand the edges and sha t, and a sprocket chain connecting said Wheels.

PEDRO RODRIGUEZ DE LA SEDA Y ACOSTA.

Vtnesses:

JULIO R. VILLENEUVE, ED. GUZMAN RODRIGUEZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C."

of said oats remote from the pivots of said floats.

5. In a paddle Wheel, the combination of a stationary support, a framerevoluble thereon, means for revolving said frame, movable oats ivotedin the periphery of said frame, a s aft revoluble about an axis locatedabove the axis of said frame, connections between said shaft and theedges

